However it would all be over in 1st. July 1865 at Munsons Hill Va. where he was mustered out and free to return
to Philadelphia and pick up his life again. In the 1870 census he is listed as being a springmaker by trade. No doubt
a trade based on what he had learned as a blacksmith.
However life was to have a cruel turn for Stephen Dooley. His first named son Stephen born in Philadelphia died aged 8 months
26th. Aug. 1866. On March 8th. 1874 ex. Sergt. Stephen Dooley Co A. 69th. Penn. Vols. dies from hydrophobia ( rabies) however
contracted and is buried the very next day March 9th. 1874 in the old Cathedral Cemetery in Philadelphia. He would be around
35 years of age though probably we will never find out his correct age. He was buried from the church of St. Malachy where
his young son Stephen Jnr.(the 2nd named Stephen) was baptised the previous August. He is buried in Section A Range 2. Lot 40 East Margin.
Stephens wife Jane lived until she was 72 and died 17th. April 1905.

War Service Over.

Stephen Dooley's muster out document.

Stephen Dooley's service in the Civil War in Co. A. ends when he is mustered out by Standing Order
S. O. 158 dated June 22nd. 1865 to be operative 1st. July 1865. It is signed by William Davis
Act. Colonel and 1st. Lieut. Gallagher. He would be given the above document and head off home to Philadelphia.

Sergt. Stephen Dooley's name on the monumental plaque at Gettysburg.

Image courtesy of John Gaffney descendant relative of Sergt.Nicholas Farrell of Co. B.

Private James Lawler Co. A 69th Pa. from Co. Laois.

This is an interesting story. When I was researching Sergt. Stephen Dooley I was surprised to find he was from one of the smallest counties in Ireland. I wrongly thought that he would be the only Laois man I would find in the regiment. Not so, as recently I received an email from a descendant of Private James Lawler also of Co A asking for any possible information I had on James. I had a quick look through my notes and data bases but nothing of much interest came up but for some reason the name Lawler kept ringing in my head. On looking at the letter that Stephen Dooley had written home from Hatchers Run on March 26th 1865 to his wife (See LETTER HOME icon on Dooley bio above) back home in Philadelphia. Quite a few lines are devoted to the fact that he was discussing with his wife the martial state of Mrs Lawler and her being on the outlook for a new husband. Be aware that this was quite a common state of affairs. Society really did not look after the descendants of soldiers killed or incapicated in the era and if a wife was left with a large family she was in a very difficult situation. In the case of the Lawlers Mrs Lawler was left with six childreen to feed and maintain. It turns out that the Dooleys and the Lawlers lived as neighbours at No 8 and No. 9 Osage Ave Philadelphia so no doubt they were very well known to each other perhaps as far back as their days in Laoise.
It would be fair to assume that both Dooley and Lawler were famine emigrants. It is known that James Lawler married an Esther Quinn in Port Laoise on the 27th.Jan 1846 just as the worst of the Irish famine was worsening. From information on hand and dates known they seem to suggest that the family split and a likely scenarion was that James headed off to America sometime circa 1847 after the birth of daughter Mary. The next child was born in America in 1853 and others followed. No children born between 1847 and 1853 suggesting wife and husband seperation. It may well be that Esther arrived in America late 1852. We shall never know for sure what happened. It is known that daughter Mary was left in Ireland and did not come to America until the mid 1860's a sad story knowing that her father had been killed in 1862. He would not have seen his daughter since she was a child in Ireland.
As to what prompted James Lawler to join the 69th we shall never know for sure as he did so when he was relatively old aged 36 in 1861. He was some 10 years older than Dooley his neighbour. But having a wife and six children to support would no doubt colour his decision. No doubt the army pay and bonuses were more attractive than the pay he was getting as a labourer. He would take his chance.
Both Dooley and Lawler were assigned to Co A of the 69th and remained there. Dooley having has some army service prior to the 69th having served in the 24th Pa. He soon obtained Corporal rank in the 69th.
Both men probably served in all the battles the 69th fought in right up to the confrontation at Fredericksburg. Here things would change dramatically. Dooley was wounded in the fighting but survived and after a spell in hospital went home on furlough to Philadelphia. Lawler was not so lucky and was killed there 13th. Dec 1862. No doubt there was great sadness in both households back in Philadelphia. Dooley probably knew exactly the circumstances of Lawlers demise but how would he deal with discussing it with Lawlors wife and young family?.
To date James Lawlers burial place is unknown. One document that is worth noting is from a Capt. Gleason Brigadier Quartermaster of the official casualty list of the 69th at Fredericksburg since Dec. 11th 1862. It lists both the killed and wounded. Lawlers name is at the top of the killed list along with some 12 others. Dooleys name is in the wounded section.
To date little can be found on what happened to the dead soldiers. No information where buried, bereavement notices. funeral dates or cemeteries used. The only link found so far is a notice in the Philadelphia Ledger dated 29th Dec.1862 stating that Corp John McElroy was killed at Fredericksburg 13th.Dec. 1862. Notice dated some 19 days after he was killed. So some 16 days after his death his folks in Philadelphia were obviously realising his remains were not coming home.
Perhaps this explains why no other notices come to light. At this stage it kind of looks like all the 69th killed at Gettysburg were buried on the battlefield. However maybe some day some information will come to light on this.
Esther did eventually re-marry an Edward Conway in 1867 and moved with her family from Philadelphia to Phoenixville in 1867. There was no family from this union. Esther Quinn Lawler Conway died in 1885.

With thanks to descendant family members of the Dooley and Lawler families for sharing information with me.

Capt.Thomas Woods Co. E 69th Pa Vols.Co. Cavan.

Born Cootehill Co. Cavan Ireland Dec. 8th 1831.

Cootehill or Moybologue the original name of the parish, is a market town and a parish, partly in the barony of Lower Kells, county of Meath,
province of Leinster, partly in that of Castlerahan, but chiefly in Clankee barony, county of Cavan, about 54 miles NW from Dublin, 7.5 NE from
Virginia, 14 NW by N from Kells, and 12.5 S from Cootehill; situated in a valley on the road between the two last named towns.
It consists of one principal street and two diverging lanes. There is no particular branch of trade flourishing here, the business enjoyed being
of a general and local nature, carried on by the shopkeepers."
[From Slater's Directory (1896)]

Cootehill Co. Cavan 1835

Permission of Royal Irish Academy.

When one reads the names of most Irish soldiers who fought in the Civil War information about them always focusses on their actual military exploits and little had been written down about their early lives. Many of their descendants in America in particular have therefore little knowledge of their ancestors, of their lives in Ireland prior to emigration and indeed much knowledge of the places they were from in Ireland.

Let us look at what limited knowledge we have on Thomas Woods, his earl;y life in Ireland and his army service and some notes on his subsequent life.
Note it is more likely that his name was spelled as Woods in Ireland.
Thomas Woods was born in Cootehill Co. Cavan. Now we will probably never know exactly where in the Cootehill parish area. It may well have been in
the small village there at the time or in some of the townlands in the parish of Cootehill. This was a poor part of Ireland and emigration
would have been an option for many, to America in particular. He is recorded as being a carpenter by trade when he joined the Army at
the start of the Civil War. Now was it a trade learned in Ireland or in America?. I tend to think that it was a trade learned in Ireland.
From my research into the soldiers of the 69th any man who had a "trade" as such would appear to have been ear marked for promotion.
Remember that any man who had a trade had learned many skills understanding measurement, weight, use of instruments,beinmg well able to
read and write and have reasonable communication skills and he would soon catch the eye of senior officers in the army. At the time the greater
percentage of Irish emigrants from the Ireland of the era would be poorly educated have few skills and as the records show merely listed as "laborer".
They would be the foot soldiers,the privates. However it must be realised that these men would form the backbone of the army and indeed high praise
must be given to them for their courage and dedication to duty and ideals.
As to the exact year Thomas emigrated we shall never know. However if he had learned his trade as a carpenter here in Ireland
he would probably have been 20 when he completed his apprenticeship as a carpenter. I feel he probably emigrated between 1855 and
1860. He would certainly be in Philadelphia by late 1860 or early 1861. He would get involved as so many did in the Phialadelphia militias
of the time initially in the Meagher Guards where he became an orderly sergeant.
From the Meagher Guards he enlisted in the three month enlistment in the 24th Pa. Regt in April 1861. After discharge from this unit on Aug. 10th 1861
he moved quickly into what was then the California Regt. Baker Guards 69th. Pa on Aug 19th. 1861. This unit would later become the
69th Pa Vol. Infantry - "Paddy Owens Regulars". He was mustered into the 69th Pa proper on 31st. Oct. 1861 as an ensign at Camp Observation. He was noted as being 29 years of age.
Thomas was wounded at the battle of Antietam 17th Sept. 1862.
He was promoted 1st. Lieut.in this unit 1st, May 1863. He was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg 3rd. July 1863 by a shell fragment and as result was hospitalised in Philadelphia and did not return to the regiment until
Sept of the same year. Soon after on the 29th Oct 1863 he was promoted this time to Captain in Co. E. around the time of the battle of Turkey Run Va.
He was on detached duties in Philadelphia in Jan and Feb of 1864 but went absent without leave in April of the same year. For whatever reason he joined
the 3rd Regt Pa. Cavalry as a private in Co. D. No doubt trying to conceal his earlier misdeeds.
He remained with the 3rd Regt. Pa Cavalry and was discharged in May 1865.It is noted on his file that at some time he had been discharged from the 69th by S.O.No. 427 of which I have no information.
Like so many soldiers in the Civil War he was married twice. Many 1st wives died in childbirth. Firstly he married a Catherine Taggart of
Philadelphia probably the sister of Lieut John Taggart another soldier in the 69th.
They had two children Joseph and Anne. Catherine died in 1873. He would appear to have lived
in Wash. D.C from 1865 the end of the Civil War until 1884.
He remarried a Mary Cunningham who died in 1906. His last years seem difficult to trace and it
is likely he lived in Newport News Va. from 1888-1890. He may have lived in the old Soldiers home
at Hampton Va 1900-1907 and may have died there. Some sources state that Thomas never recovered fully from his war wounds. Thomas Woods like so many of his fellow soldiers from Philadelphia is buried in the New Cathedral Cemetery in that city.

Capt. Thomas Woods attended the funeral of Colonel Dennis O'Kanes in Philadelphia in Aug. 1863 as did Lieut John Taggart
also of the 69th. Kind
of proves that Catherine Taggart was in fact the sister of Lieut Taggart. It is of interest to note that Lieut
John Taggart had two other brothers who fought for the 69th. all in Co.E. Hugh a private who died at Harrisons Landing Va. from disease Aug 16th 1862. He was the oldest brother. The third brother Patrick a Sergt. though wounded at Gettysburg survived the war. Some sources suggest that the brothers from Co. Down Ireland.
In the company data bases a Private soldier by the name of John Woods turns up as a member of Co's D and I.
Possibly a brother of Thomas.
Thomas Woods was promoted to 1st Lieut when Ist Lieut Alex Lovett was wounded and left the unit. Later when Lovett recovered and joined the VRC the Voluntary Reserve Corps he Lovett was the arresting officer in charge of the unit which arrested Dr. Mudd after President Lincoln's assassination. Lovett survived the war and died on March 19th 1887 and is buried in the New Cathedral cemetery in Philadelphia.

Lieut. Murdock Campbell. Co. B. 69th.Pa. Inf. born Co. Clare Ireland.

I have often commented to others that there is a book and a movie in the life experiences of
some of
the men of the 69th. While their war service in the Union Army is of much interest to those who
study the details of the war proper, battles fought in, military tactics,losses, ground lost and won etc
this is fine but I personally
find the life story of each man to be more fascinating. This aspect I have concentrated on in this website in most cases.
Murdock Campbell was born in Co. Clare on the western seaboard of Ireland circa 1830. Co. Clare is a most beautiful
county. However
in the early/mid 19th century it was a place of great poverty. There was little employment and
probably Murdocks family lived
out an existence on a small holding of perhaps 5 or 10 acres at best. The nation to the west or as President J.F.Kennedy
referred to as "the next parish", America beckoned. As to when Murdock left for America we will never know. He may have
left with his family
or a group of friends. We know that his wife was also Irish so it is possible he may have left as a married man.
Like so many others he appeared to find employment in Philadelphia.
You may wonder about his name a most Scottish one. Murdock Campbell is certainly not an Irish one. True but if one
looks at the history of the west of Ireland and the Plantation of Ulster many settlers found their way to the
west of Ireland. Scots and English names are frequently found there. However it will be found that in most cases
their religion would as
now be Catholic even though their ancestors in the 16th and 17th centries would have been Protestant most likely
Presbyterian. Also through the centuries many regiments of the English army were garrisoned in the west of Ireland
and many soldiers stayed and married into
the local population. In parts of Connemara as now there are many descendants of Cromwells soldiers who had been garrisoned
in the west.
However as now the descendants will be Catholic and have a total Irish ethos but will have very English or Scots
surnames.
Many have endeavoured to make Irish names from the English or Scots ones not too different to the Anglification of
Irish names
in later years. I feel that is just likely Murdock was of this
stock. However we will never know for sure. Let us look at his life.
We know from the Civil War records that he was noted as being aged 28 in 1861 when he joined the 24th Reg for the 3 month
enlistment on the 3.5.1861 in Philadelphia. He is noted as living in Philadelphia.

Holy Cross Church Santa Cruz California.

The above church built in 1889 is built on the site of the old Santa Cruz mission church. The commerative granite arch
which is seen
in the front of the church was erected in 1891 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Misssion Santa Cruz.
It is more likely that Murdock
and his family attended the old Mission Santa Cruz though his children probably attended the above church. By 1890 both
Murdock and his wife would have been near the end of their days. He was most certainly in poor health as he was
recorded as dieing of bronchial problems.

From his service records it is seen Murdock first served in Co. B of the 24th Regt then enrolled in Co. B. 69th.Pa on
31.8.1861 again in Philadelphia. He mustered into
the Regt.
at Camp Observation Md.on 31.10.1861. He had quite an eventful war and a lot is recorded about his service in the war.
He gained
promotion at various times. Quickly promoted to Sergt. then Sergt.Major 5.11.1863. He fought at Gettysburg. Later promoted
Lieut.
However in action a Spotsylvania C.H. 12.5.1864 he was badly wounded. He was shot behind his right ear and jaw
damaging
both his skull and jaw causing lifelong deafness. He was also struck across his left face by a sabre between his lower
left jaw and ear. Some few months later he was discharged by
Surgeons Certificate
on 27.10.1864. Murdock's war was over.

View of the "old" Santa Cruz graveyard. Two Campbell family
grave plots lower forefront. Wife Hannah is vertical plinth and Murdock's the Civil War
plinth to right of Hanna's. Hanna was born Ireland
Nov.30th. 1832

After leaving the army what happened to Murdock?. With most soldiers then as now it is very difficult to find out a
lot after they cease military careers and move into
civilian life. However we have some trace information on Murdock. It is found that he signed naturalisation papers
in San Francisco on Sept 2nd
1867. It would be a fair assumption that he alone or perhaps as a married man left Philadelphia to "go West" not too long
after the
Civil War ended. Did he perhaps "go west" as a single man and meet his wife in California?. Why did he not stay
in Philadelphia with his friends and family?. If one looks at the cause of death in 1890 he would be
about 60 years of age. The better climate of California might have suited him better rather that the bitter
cold and wet winters
of Pennsylvania. It is noted that
he was "registered" to vote on Sept 13th 1880 again in San Francisco though we know
that by this stage he was living in Santa Cruz.

Murdock died 22.7. 1890. Hannah his wife had died a few months earlier on 28.3.1890. Murdock and Hannah lived at
Caledonia St. However in a business diary of Santa Cruz it states that Murdock ran a tailoring business at
Mission Street where the family lived and had their business. As to when Murdock got involved in tailoring no
information is on hand. Maybe he learned the trade in Ireland or
in Philadelphia. Because he received such rapid promotion in the 69th I feel that he was at enlistment a very capable
man with
a good education. He was never slow to pen his thoughts about the way the 69th was run!. Quick to pen his reactions
he made a written complaint to Col. O'Kane the Regt commander when another officer, McIlvain was promoted over him
stating that McIlvane had
gained votes in the Company due to them receiving extra issues of whiskey from McIlvain.
However O'Kane did reply saying that he Campbell would soon be promoted which he was!.
From the very limited information
on hand about him
and his family research shows that
he had applied for a disability pension (No.243017) and the examining surgeons certificate dated Santa Cruz March 31st
1878. It lists his various wounds and notes that his general state of health was poor. Along with this the examining
doctor
C.L.Anderson noted concern about him and noted that there was a large family to support.
We do not know if he received a pension from his 1878 application but it is known he applied for a pension on
Sept 19th 1883 from Santa Cruz, perhaps for additional funding. On the application it states he was
53 years old about 5ft 5ins tall and about 140 Lbs weight (10 stone). It then lists his wounds. Again it is Dr.Anderson
who examined him.

When Hannah died in Santa Cruz 28.3.1890 her death notice appeared in the Santa Cruz Cronicle the next
day March 29th 1890.

CAMPBELL: in this city March 28th Mrs H beloved wife of M.Campbell mother of John M. and Alex Campbell, Mrs Kate Silva,
Mrs M Silva and
Mrs M.Wagner and sister of Mrs C.M. Bunting of Chamberlain Dakota, a native of Ireland aged about 60 years.The funeral
of the deceased
will take place from her residence Caledonia St. East Santa Cruz tomorrow Sunday at 2pm.
From the above it would appear that Murdock and Hanna had a family of two boys and three girls (at least). It is of
interest to note Hanna is said to be the sister to
Mrs C.M. Bunting in Chamberlain Dakota.This kind of suggests that Hannah and sister Mrs Bunting may well have been already in
California prior to arrival of Murdock. However we see her birth place
confirmed as Ireland.
Though there are no markers on the other Campbell grave beside Murdock and Hanna except a small rectangular slab
at the edge of the plot with
"Campbell" on it. It is very probable that their last
surviving son John alias Jerry who lived in Salinas and who died Nov 19th 1922 aged 48 is buried in the adjacent plot.
The
Sant Cruz Sentinentel
of Nov. 19th 1922 carried information on his death with some notes on his life and relatives.

Some 118 years after his death a friend of the 69th drops by!.

"Ar dheis De go raibh a anam".

Acknowledgements and thanks:

For information extracted from Schellins Collection of
Historical Materials- Vol. 209 Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Public Library
Informtion extracted from old copies of The Santa Cruz Sentinel.
Information extracted from the book Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum- Combined Records Vol 1.
by the Santa Cruz county Genealogical Society of Santa Cruz Co.2004.
Information extracted from a book or roll call named as the Great Register of Santa Cruz Co.1882 by the
Santa Cruz Printing Co.